Lowell's top cop to retire (SLIDESHOW)

Lowell Police Superintendent William Taylor addresses the crowd at the Parents of Murdered Children s Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims held at Lowell City Hall in September. SUN/JOHN LOVE

LOWELL -- There were ups and downs throughout his career, but Police Superintendent William Taylor stressed that the good far outweighed the bad during his more than three and a half decades with the force.

Taylor, who joined the Police Department in 1982 and rose to the rank of superintendent in 2013, announced his retirement Wednesday through a departmentwide email. It was a decision he had been considering over the last year.

"It is with mixed emotions I inform you of my decision to retire effective April 27, 2018," he stated in the email. "While I am excited to take on the next phase of my life, I will miss the camaraderie and important work we do together. I started on the Lowell Police Department in January of 1982 knowing very little about police work. Law enforcement was not my intended career, but fate took me in this direction. The 36 years since have been an amazing and rewarding experience serving the citizens of Lowell and working alongside all of you."

Taylor reflected on the positives and negatives of the job in an interview Wednesday night.

"Some days are better than others," the 61-year-old said. "But overwhelmingly, I think the progress the city has made and the department has been good. And to be a part of that over the years, and most recently as the superintendent, it's been an honor and a privilege."

In his email, Taylor touched on his predecessors John Sheehan, Edward Davis and Kenneth Lavallee, and their commitment to community policing, which builds trust between law enforcement and the public.

Advertisement

"Under the leadership of Chief Sheehan, Davis and Lavallee, core 'community policing' principles continued to expand and transform Lowell into a safer city," Taylor stated in the email. "Upon my appointment as chief in November of 2013, my goal was to build upon this success and take it to the next level."

In 2016, the Police Department was recognized by the White House as one of 15 police agencies nationwide as a model for 21st century policing.

William Taylor ... "It's been an honor and a privilege."

"I can say without hesitation, the city of Lowell's current success is built on the foundation of Lowell employees, past and present," Taylor stated in the email. "Without public safety no community can prosper."

Taylor identified the implementation of the Community Opioid Outreach Program, or COOP team, in 2016 as among the high-water marks of his time with the department.

The team, composed of members of the Lowell police and fire departments and the Lowell House Inc., is responsible for following up, in person if possible, with every person who overdoses in the city to offer help with entering treatment programs.

As Taylor said, "going outside the comfort zone of traditional police work," to help every individual and prevent what was skyrocketing overdoses that included 40 fatalities in 2016. That number dropped nearly 50 percent -- to 23 fatalities -- during 2017.

Taylor is the second top city official to recently announce his retirement. City Manager Kevin Murphy's resignation took effect Sunday. Taylor was appointed by former City Manager Bernie Lynch and was kept on by Murphy.

Murphy recognized Taylor for helping him achieve one of the three objectives of his administration -- improving public safety.

Taylor stressed Murphy's decision didn't have any influence on his decision to retire.

"I've been thinking about this for approximately a year," Taylor said Wednesday night. "I am close to almost five years past my minimum retirement date. I could have retired in June 2013 -- prior to becoming superintendent."

As for the future, Taylor revealed plans to explore opportunities within the private security industry.

"Now that I have an opportunity to do something after my career, I think it was the appropriate time," Taylor said.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.